The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-06-16

master l.. Is. Bennett.
FIRST YEARS OF THE POST.
The account Of the organization and
first years of the Post is as follows:
On the evening of June 29th, 1872.
about thirty-fve or forty ex-soldiers Of
the union army, who had faithfully
served their country during the rebel
lion, met at a building which was in
tended for u carpenter shop. and which
was then standing where the Congre-
gatlonal Church now stands, for the
purpose of organizing Post of the
Grand Army of the Republic. The
meeting was addressed by Captain
Henry A. Castle, of st. Paul, and the
objects Of the organization fully ex-
plAined, after which he proceeded to
muster in those assembled as StOddard
Post No. 81, Department of Minneso-
tn, G. a. r., Capt. Castle being at
that time Commander of the Depart
ment. =
The Post received its name from an
old gentleman named StOddard, who
had died here the previous winter, he
being the first ex soldier buried in No
bles county.
The first officers of the Post were as
follows:
VIM. B. Akins, Commander.
I. G. Bell. j. V.C.
NJ. B. Souie. Adiu;apt.
&C. Goodnow, q NJ.
X. ID. Barber. Surgeon.
a. b. Wiley, q. ID.
&c GoodLow %. &.
The Post held weekly meetings dur.
ing the summer, but as winter APP
preached it WAS found impossible to
procure 4 suitable place for meeting,
and rs a consequence the Post became
somewhat demural!ztd, and owing to
the fact that the members were scat
tered over the prairie, the meetings
were thinly attended and much of the
interest died out. But determined
few continued to meet rs often "a pos
sillr, and 1T the first meeting in 1873
the following officers were elected:
Il. ID. Barber Com.
L. G. Bell, ). V. e..
Geo W. RhOne. J. Y. G.
NJ. =. Soule, Adjuant.
A. j. Manly. q. NJ.
X. ID. Barber, surgeon.
j. 5. langdOD, Chap.
&C. Goodnow. y. y.
J. ). Stone, 0. G.
Daniel Stone, 5. NJ.
b. t. Prince. q. NJ. >.
Things remained very quiet until the
fall of this year (1S73,) VIXEN the Post
seemed to take a new lease OF power,
and the headquarters were, changed
from Miller Hall. where they had been
previously established, to Masonic
Hall, where better accommodations
were afforded, and from that time to
the present the Post has continued to
prosper. At the last meeting in 1873
the following officers were elected for
the ensuing year:
j. A. Town. Commander.
r. &. Bell, s. ".
NJ H. Stevens, J. VIC.
NJ. B. SOule, Adjutant.
Al. Manley, Q. NJ.
II. ID. Barber, Surgeon.
Il. P. Haydenburk, q. D.
l.. b. Bennett, D. e.
The Post has given several public en-
tertainments,, at which the utmost
good feeling has prevailed, and which
has been the means of raising a small
fund which has been expended in char
ity. 1t also held public exercises on
Decoration Day in the years 1873 and
1874. On the latter occasion the Post
turned out to the number of sixty and
listened to a very fine address by COM
rade 4. e. Bell. During the last quar-
ter of the year 1874 the Post was epa-
bled to disburse a considerable amount
in charity among the ex soldiers, the
same having been furnished the Post
through the liberality of comrades in
the different societies of the United
States, and for which they will ever he
held in grateful remembrance by the
many soldiers located in Southwestern
Minnesota.